fetrow@bones.biostat.washington.edu (Dave Fetrow) (07/14/89)
I'm just wondering is anyone has successfully tightened up the code
in PCNFS.SYS as distributed by SUN for PC-NFS 3.0?
I have no idea if this is doable but can no longer afford 58K+ hanging
around in memory all the time either.
Any suggestions welcome (disinstall/reinstall programs?, hardware addons?
some sort of memory expander?). The target systems are mostly IBM ATs (80286).
Other smaller packages that can support NFS would be a reluctant option.
Please respond by E-mail. I will summarize to the net.
-dave fetrow- fetrow@bones.biostat.washington.edu
dfetrow@uwalocke (bitnet) {uunet}!uw-beaver!uw-entropy!fetrow
"It's 1989! I'm supposed to take a language with `cards' in it seriously?" smasters@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Shawn Masters) (09/22/90)
I've been hearing a lot about PC-NFS, which I believe is a file server scheme from SUN workstations(please correct me if I'm worng). I have a few questions about this. We currently have 6 Novell servers on a variety of LANs connected together on a common ethernet. We run NCSA Telnet(Packet drivers), WIN/TCP(for token ring to ethernet hosts), and PC/IP(for Sytek broadband ethernet card) to get to out major hosts. After a lot of headaches with Novell I'm looking for an alternative that has a bit more flexibility. 1)Exactly how does PC-NFS work? 2)I assume it can run on a Packet driver? 3)Where and how can it be obtained? I was of the understanding that the software was available public domain from some sites. In fact I got a file called sos_pkt.arc that talked in a readme file about being a PC-NFS server, but alas I couldn't untar it. If it isn't what I believe it is, could someone please inform me of my mistake. Please respond via e-mail. If I get enough request I could post a summary. Thank you in advance. Shawn Masters
nestor@NMS.HLS.COM (Nestor Fesas) (09/25/90)
> I've been hearing a lot about PC-NFS, which I believe is a file > server scheme from SUN workstations(please correct me if I'm worng). Shawn, You're not wrong. More specifically however, PC-NFS is SUN's NFS client software for DOS. It allows a PC to store/retrieve files on an NFS server, be it a SUN workstation or not. > ... We run NCSA Telnet(Packet drivers), WIN/TCP(for token ring to > ethernet hosts), and PC/IP(for Sytek broadband ethernet card) to get to > out major hosts. After a lot of headaches with Novell I'm looking for an > alternative that has a bit more flexibility. When you say "more flexibility," just what do you mean? Do you wish to run Novell and TCP concurrently? Do any other protocol stacks come into play, e.g. LAT? Is support for different network adapters a problem? Making Novell and TCP "play" together peacefully is a feature provided by Wollongong's WIN/TCP and our own ProLINC (which includes an oem version of FTP Software's PC/TCP). There may be others that provide this functionality but I don't recall any at this time (I'm sure they will quickly refresh my memory if they're out there). Additionally, ProLINC supports the LAT protocol, and it allows you to run Novell Netware concurrently with the 3+ Open and Banyan redirectors. With the introduction of NDIS, the Clarkson Packet Drivers and ODLI, the old "will it run with brand x adapters?" problem is quickly disappearing. Most of the popular TCP products for the PC, including ProLINC, support one or more of these standard network adapter interfaces. > 1)Exactly how does PC-NFS work? I don't know how PC-NFS works on a detailed basis because I have never used it. Generally speaking however, PC-NFS and other like products provide two conceptual components. The first is a DOS file i/o redirector. This redirector intercepts the DOS INT21H api and monitors file related calls. When it detects i/o to a file residing on a remote machine, i.e. the NFS server, it "redirects" the i/o by passing the request to the NFS protocol component which then packetizes it and sends it to the corresponding server. Upon satisfying the request, the server packetizes its response and sends it to the requesting client. > 2)I assume it can run on a Packet driver? I don't know if SUN's PC-NFS supports packet drivers but FTP Software's PC/TCP with Interdrive (FTP's NFS implementation) does. However, keep in mind that the functionality you desire can be attained with NDIS as easily as it can with the Packet Drivers. As such, our ProLINC package can provide you with NFS connectivity over NDIS. > 3)Where and how can it be obtained? PC-NFS can be obtained directly from SUN (I don't have their number), ProLINC (includes NFS, LAT TCP, Novell client software, terminal emulation software and other utilities), can be obtained directly from us (415-966-7300), PC/TCP and Interdrive can be obtained from FTP Software (617-246-0900) > I was of the understanding that the software was > available public domain from some sites. In fact I got a file called > sos_pkt.arc that talked in a readme file about being a PC-NFS server, > but alas I couldn't untar it. Both commercial and pd versions of NFS are available. Honestly, I don't know where you might find a pd version of the NFS client, however, a pd version of the NFS server can be ftp'd from dorm.rutgers.edu. The files that you need are pcnfs_pkt_v2.tar and pcnfs_server.tar.Z. I'll be perfectly frank in telling you that I haven't had a chance to play with this software yet. As such, there may be other files that you will need. I hope this information is useful to you. Nestor. -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Nestor A. Fesas, Jr. = Hughes LAN Systems nestor@hls.com = (formerly Sytek) = 1225 Charleston Road = Mountain View, CA 94043 = 415-966-7473 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
geoff@hinode.East.Sun.COM (Geoff Arnold @ Sun BOS - R.H. coast near the top) (09/26/90)
Quoth nestor@NMS.HLS.COM (Nestor Fesas) (in <9009250038.AA11998@nms.>): # #> I've been hearing a lot about PC-NFS, which I believe is a file #> server scheme from SUN workstations(please correct me if I'm worng). #>[...] #> 2)I assume it can run on a Packet driver? # #I don't know if SUN's PC-NFS supports packet drivers but FTP Software's #PC/TCP with Interdrive (FTP's NFS implementation) does. However, keep #in mind that the functionality you desire can be attained with NDIS as #easily as it can with the Packet Drivers. As such, our ProLINC package #can provide you with NFS connectivity over NDIS. PC-NFS packet driver and NDIS support is available by downloading our driver compatibility kit from Clarkson or elsewhere. # #> 3)Where and how can it be obtained? # #PC-NFS can be obtained directly from SUN (I don't have their number), It's 1-800-334-SUNM. #> I was of the understanding that the software was #> available public domain from some sites. In fact I got a file called #> sos_pkt.arc that talked in a readme file about being a PC-NFS server, #> but alas I couldn't untar it. Careful now. There are two beasts here: the NFS server, which provides file services to any NFS client, PC or not, and the PCNFSD server, which is provided to support user authentication and printing services for NFS clients on certain low-end systems (not restricted to DOS PC's). PCNFSD is freely available, is frequently posted to various newgroups and FTP sites, and I try to keep it up to date with sugestions from all over the net. However, it is useless if the server doesn't already support NFS. Many Unix vendors bundle NFS into their kernel, and there are implementations available on VMS, MVS, VM and other systems. There is also a reasonably portable user-level server that is fairly widely available. The use of NFS for PC/Unix interoperability is also the subject of an X/Open Developer's Specification. It's entitled "Protocols for X/Open PC Interworking: (PC)NFS", and it's available from X/Open Co. at a price of $40. Their US number is 415-773-5383; in Europe call the UK office at +44 734 508311. The X/Open designation is XO/DEV/90/030; the ISBN is 1 872630 00 6. A companion volume on SMB protocols is scheduled for release shortly. -- Geoff Arnold, PC-NFS architect, Sun Microsystems. (geoff@East.Sun.COM) -- *** "Now is no time to speculate or hypothecate, but rather a time *** *** for action, or at least not a time to rule it out, though not *** *** necessarily a time to rule it in, either." - George Bush ***